EXPERIENCE PADDLEBOARDING IN SIESTA KEY

The Paddleboarding craze is making a splash around the world. Once the sport of ancient Hawaiian kings, it’s now enjoyed by everyone at nearly every age, and everywhere. Even dogs are lapping it up. A peaceful way to commune with sun and sea, it’s not surprising that paddleboarding is wildly popular here in the paradise that is Siesta Key. It’s not difficult, it’s terrific exercise, and you’ll experience nature like never before. Paddle with dolphins, encounter manatees and witness jumping fish in a rainbow of colors. Standing up while paddling allows you to see through our crystal clear waters to the treasure of sea life below.

So what’s SUP? Stand up paddleboarding, otherwise known as SUP – or in the Hawaiian language, Hoe he'e nalu – is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. It combines standing on a large surfboard and propelling yourself with a canoe type paddle. Water sports enthusiasts around the world are embracing SUP as an alternative to surfing, kite boarding and windsurfing. It’s safe, easy to learn and provides a great core workout. It’s quickly becoming the water sport of choice and while SUP might not yet be the most popular, it certainly is the fastest growing.

Paddleboarding - 50 Shades of Blue

Paddleboarding has recently morphed into the ideal platform for a wide variety of other activities. Here’s the top five of what’s trending in our bays, inlets, and open Gulf waters.Practicing Pilates and Yoga on our beautiful waterways definitely takes the pain out of the gain. Studio Rubylake offers a class called “Paddleboard Fitness” that not only improves your balance and challenges your abdominals, back, shoulders and arms, but also instills a sense of blissful serenity.

SUP Yoga and Pilates

Practicing Pilates and Yoga on our beautiful waterways definitely takes the pain out of the gain. Studio Rubylake offers a class called “Paddleboard Fitness” that not only improves your balance and challenges your abdominals, back, shoulders and arms, but also instills a sense of blissful serenity.

SUP Touring

Paddling around is just plain fun! And it’s a wonderful way to explore our aqueous area. Fans of kayaking and canoeing are naturally drawn to Paddleboarding as an alternative way to explore the beauty of our great outdoors.

SUP Racing

Got the need for speed? This year marks the first annual Sarasota SUP Race Series, comprised of three SUP Races, each a one-of-a-kind race experience, showcasing a unique Sarasota County Park. This is the first SUP Race Series of its kind and is designed to showcase the accessibility and natural beauty of our parks, and draw even more sports enthusiasts to our sunny shores.

SUP Fishing

The high vantage point that SUP offers over a kayak makes SUP fishing more fruitful to the traditional kayak fisherman. Being able to see down into the water from a steeper angle makes spotting fish a snap.

SUP Surfing

It’s no wonder that the paddleboard, which is after all, a longboard style surfboard, has spawned the sport of SUP surfing. Paddlers have an advantage because they can see, get to and catch the waves much more easily. And yes, we do get waves in the Gulf!

Catch the wave!

Here are some local companies that rent and/or sell paddleboards as well as provide lessons: